Florida 2026 Session Status: Introduced 2 R cosponsors

SB 902 — Department of Health

Last action — Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1279 (Ch. 2026-59)

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced December 15, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 30% · moderate confidence

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 5 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Department of Health; Revising requirements for department approval of qualified physicians and medical directors of medical marijuana treatment centers; prohibiting medical marijuana treatment center cultivating, processing, or dispensing facilities from being located within a specified distance of parks, child care facilities, or facilities providing early learning services; creating the Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program within the department; revising duties of the department in administering the Early Steps Program; authorizing a registered nurse to delegate the administration of certain controlled substances to a home health aide for medically fragile children under certain circumstances, etc.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

362 added · 523 removed

362 line(s) added, 523 removed.

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Latest
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 By the Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 By the Committee on Health Policy;
the Committee on Health Policy;
and Senator Garcia 588-02780-26 2026902c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to the Department of Health;
and Senator Garcia 603-02959-26 2026902c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to the Department of Health;
creating s.
381.994, F.S.;
creating the Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program within the department;
providing the purpose of the program;
providing that, subject to legislative appropriation, the program award grants for certain purposes;
specifying entities that are eligible to apply for Page 1 of 17 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 grants under the program;
allowing certain grant proposals to receive preference in the awarding of grants;
requiring the department to award grants after consulting with the Rare Disease Advisory Council;
specifying the types of applications that may be considered for grant funding;
requiring the department to appoint peer review panels to review the scientific merit of grant applications and establish their priority scores;
requiring the council to consider the priority scores in determining which proposals are recommended for grant funding under the program;
requiring the council and peer review panels to establish and follow certain guidelines when performing their duties under the program;
prohibiting members of the council or peer review panels from participating in discussions or decisions if there are certain conflicts of interest;
authorizing certain appropriated funds to be carried forward under certain circumstances;
revising provisions relating to the Early Steps Extended Option to conform to changes made by the act;
revising provisions relating to the Early Steps Extended Option Page 1 of 12 CODING:
amending s.
456.074, F.S.;
requiring the department to issue an emergency order suspending the license of a health care practitioner arrested for committing or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit murder Page 2 of 17 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 in this state or another jurisdiction;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 588-02780-26 2026902c1 to conform to changes made by the act;
456.074, F.S.;
requiring the department to issue an emergency order suspending the license of a health care practitioner arrested for committing or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit murder in this state or another jurisdiction;
amending s.
491.005, F.S.;
revising licensure requirements for marriage and family therapists;
amending s.
revising requirements for the micro-credential component of specialized training provided by the University of Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment;
revising requirements for the micro- credential component of specialized training provided by the University of Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment;
and every or any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant or its seeds or resin, excluding edibles;
and every or any Page 2 of 12 CODING:
which contains 0.8 percent or less of tetrahydrocannabinol and 2 Page 3 of 17 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 percent cannabidiol, weight for weight, which that is dispensed from a medical marijuana treatment center.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 588-02780-26 2026902c1 compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant or its seeds or resin, excluding edibles;
which contains 0.8 percent or less of tetrahydrocannabinol and 2 percent cannabidiol, weight for weight, which that is dispensed from a medical marijuana treatment center.
(4) PHYSICIAN CERTIFICATION.— (h) An active order for low-THC cannabis or medical cannabis issued pursuant to former s.
(4) PHYSICIAN CERTIFICATION.— Page 3 of 12 CODING:
381.986, Florida Statutes 2016, and registered with the compassionate use registry before Page 4 of 17 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 June 23, 2017, is deemed a physician certification, and all patients possessing such orders are deemed qualified patients until the department begins issuing medical marijuana use registry identification cards.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 588-02780-26 2026902c1 (h) An active order for low-THC cannabis or medical cannabis issued pursuant to former s.
381.986, Florida Statutes 2016, and registered with the compassionate use registry before June 23, 2017, is deemed a physician certification, and all patients possessing such orders are deemed qualified patients until the department begins issuing medical marijuana use registry identification cards.
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2.
Page 4 of 12 CODING:
The department shall license as medical marijuana treatment centers 10 applicants that meet the requirements of this section, under the following parameters:
Page 5 of 17 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 a.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 588-02780-26 2026902c1 2.
The department shall license as medical marijuana treatment centers 10 applicants that meet the requirements of this section, under the following parameters:
a.
c.
Page 5 of 12 CODING:
As soon as practicable, but no later than October 3, 2017, the department shall license applicants that meet the requirements of this section in sufficient numbers to result in Page 6 of 17 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 10 total licenses issued under this subparagraph, while accounting for the number of licenses issued under sub- subparagraphs a.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 588-02780-26 2026902c1 c.
As soon as practicable, but no later than October 3, 2017, the department shall license applicants that meet the requirements of this section in sufficient numbers to result in 10 total licenses issued under this subparagraph, while accounting for the number of licenses issued under sub- subparagraphs a.
402.302, a facility that provides early learning services as specified in s.
402.302, a facility that Page 6 of 12 CODING:
1000.04(1), or a public or private elementary school, middle school, or secondary school.
The subsequent establishment of any such park, Page 7 of 17 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 child care facility, early learning facility, or school after the approval of the medical marijuana treatment center cultivating or processing facility does not affect the continued operation or location of the approved cultivating or processing facility.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 588-02780-26 2026902c1 provides early learning services as specified in s.
1000.04(1), or a public or private elementary school, middle school, or secondary school.
The subsequent establishment of any such park, child care facility, early learning facility, or school after the approval of the medical marijuana treatment center cultivating or processing facility does not affect the continued operation or location of the approved cultivating or processing facility.
Section 2.
Page 7 of 12 CODING:
Section 381.994, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
381.994 Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program.— Page 8 of 17 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 (1)(a) There is created within the Department of Health the Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 588-02780-26 2026902c1 Section 2.
The purpose of the program is to advance the progress of research and cures for neurofibromatosis by awarding grants through a competitive, peer-reviewed process.
(b) Subject to legislative appropriation, the program shall award grants for scientific and clinical research to further the search for new diagnostics, treatments, and cures for neurofibromatosis.
(2)(a) Applications for grants for neurofibromatosis disease research may be submitted by any university or established research institute in this state.
All qualified investigators in this state, regardless of institutional affiliation, shall have equal access and opportunity to compete for the research funding.
Preference may be given to grant proposals that foster collaboration among institutions, researchers, and community practitioners, as such proposals support the advancement of treatments and cures of neurofibromatosis through basic or applied research.
Grants shall be awarded by the department, after consultation with the Rare Disease Advisory Council under s.
381.99, on the basis of scientific merit, as determined by the competitive, peer- reviewed process to ensure objectivity, consistency, and high quality.
The following types of applications may be considered for funding:
1.
Investigator-initiated research grants.
2.
Institutional research grants.
3.
Collaborative research grants, including those that advance the finding of treatment and cures through basic or Page 9 of 17 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 applied research.
(b) To ensure appropriate and fair evaluation of grant applications based on scientific merit, the department shall appoint peer review panels of independent, scientifically qualified individuals to review the scientific merit of each proposal and establish its priority score.
The priority scores shall be forwarded to the council, and the council must consider priority scores in determining which proposals are recommended for funding.
(3) For purposes of performing their duties under this section, the Rare Disease Advisory Council and the peer review panels shall establish and follow rigorous guidelines for ethical conduct and adhere to a strict policy with regard to conflicts of interest.
A member of the council or panel may not participate in any discussion or decision of the council or panel with respect to a research proposal by any firm, entity, or agency with which the member is associated as a member of the governing body or as an employee or with which the member has entered into a contractual arrangement.
(4) Notwithstanding s.
216.301 and pursuant to s.
216.351, the balance of any appropriation from the General Revenue Fund for the Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program which is not disbursed but is obligated pursuant to contract or committed to be expended by June 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are appropriated may be carried forward for up to 5 years after the effective date of the original appropriation.
Section 3.
Page 10 of 17 CODING:
391.308 Early Steps Program.—The department shall implement and administer part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which shall be known as the “Early Steps Program.” (2) DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT.—The department shall:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 391.308 Early Steps Program.—The department shall implement and administer part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which shall be known as the “Early Steps Program.” (2) DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT.—The department shall:
(7) TRANSITION TO EDUCATION.— (a) The department shall establish statewide uniform protocols and procedures for transition to a school district program for children with disabilities or to another program as part of an individual family support plan pursuant to part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act At least 90 days before a child reaches 3 years of age, the local program office shall initiate transition planning to ensure the child’s successful transition from the Early Steps Program to a school district program for children with disabilities or to another program as part of an individual family support plan.
(7) TRANSITION TO EDUCATION.— (a) The department shall establish statewide uniform protocols and procedures for transition to a school district program for children with disabilities or to another program as part of an individual family support plan pursuant to part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act At least 90 days before a child reaches 3 years of age, the local program office shall initiate transition planning to ensure the child’s successful transition from the Early Steps Program to a school district program for children with disabilities or to another Page 8 of 12 CODING:
(b) At least 90 days before a child reaches 3 years of age, the local program office shall:
Page 11 of 17 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 1.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 588-02780-26 2026902c1 program as part of an individual family support plan.
(b) At least 90 days before a child reaches 3 years of age, the local program office shall:
1.
Section 4.
Section 3.
(a) At least 90 days before the beginning of the school year following the fourth birthday of a child enrolled in the Early Steps Extended Option, the local program office shall initiate transition planning to ensure the child’s successful transition from the Early Steps Extended Option to a school district program under part B of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or to another program as part of an individual family support plan.
(a) At least 90 days before the beginning of the school year following the fourth birthday of a child enrolled in the Early Steps Extended Option, the local program office shall initiate transition planning to ensure the child’s successful transition from the Early Steps Extended Option to a school district program under part B of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or to another program as part of an Page 9 of 12 CODING:
Specifically, the local program office shall:
1.
Notify the Department of Education and the local school Page 12 of 17 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 district in which the child resides that the eligible child is exiting the Early Steps Extended Option, unless the child’s parent or legal guardian has opted out of such notification;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 588-02780-26 2026902c1 individual family support plan.
Specifically, the local program office shall:
1.
Notify the Department of Education and the local school district in which the child resides that the eligible child is exiting the Early Steps Extended Option, unless the child’s parent or legal guardian has opted out of such notification;
Section 5.
Section 4.
immediate suspension of license.— (5) The department shall issue an emergency order suspending the license of any health care practitioner who is Page 13 of 17 CODING:
immediate Page 10 of 12 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 arrested for committing or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit any act that would constitute a violation of any of the following criminal offenses in this state or similar offenses in another jurisdiction:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 588-02780-26 2026902c1 suspension of license.— (5) The department shall issue an emergency order suspending the license of any health care practitioner who is arrested for committing or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit any act that would constitute a violation of any of the following criminal offenses in this state or similar offenses in another jurisdiction:
Section 6.
Section 5.
Section 7.
Section 6.
Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section 491.005, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
491.005 Licensure by examination.— (3) MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY.—Upon verification of documentation and payment of a fee not to exceed $200, as set by board rule, the department shall issue a license as a marriage and family therapist to an applicant whom the board certifies has met all of the following criteria:
(c)1.
Attained one of the following:
Page 14 of 17 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 a.
A minimum of a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.
b.
A minimum of a master’s degree with a major emphasis in marriage and family therapy or a closely related field from a university program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and graduate courses approved by the board.
c.
A minimum of a master’s degree with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy or a closely related field, with a degree conferred before September 1, 2032 2027, from an institutionally accredited college or university and graduate courses approved by the board.
2.
If the course title that appears on the applicant’s transcript does not clearly identify the content of the coursework, the applicant provided additional documentation, including, but not limited to, a syllabus or catalog description published for the course.
The required master’s degree must have been received in an institution of higher education that, at the time the applicant graduated, was fully accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization or was a member in good standing with Universities Canada, or an institution of higher education located outside the United States and Canada which, at the time the applicant was enrolled and at the time the applicant graduated, maintained a standard of training substantially equivalent to the standards of training of those institutions in the United States which are accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by Page 15 of 17 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization.
Such foreign education and training must have been received in an institution or program of higher education officially recognized by the government of the country in which it is located as an institution or program to train students to practice as professional marriage and family therapists or psychotherapists.
The applicant has the burden of establishing that the requirements of this provision have been met, and the board shall require documentation, such as an evaluation by a foreign equivalency determination service, as evidence that the applicant’s graduate degree program and education were equivalent to an accredited program in this country.
An applicant with a master’s degree from a program that did not emphasize marriage and family therapy may complete the coursework requirement in a training institution fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education recognized by the United States Department of Education.
For the purposes of dual licensure, the department shall license as a marriage and family therapist any person who meets the requirements of s.
491.0057.
Fees for dual licensure may not exceed those stated in this subsection.
Section 8.
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Page 11 of 12 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 902 603-02959-26 2026902c2 (f) Develop an autism micro-credential to provide specialized training in supporting students with autism.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 902 588-02780-26 2026902c1 (f) Develop an autism micro-credential to provide specialized training in supporting students with autism.
Section 9.
Section 7.
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Action History

  1. Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1279 (Ch. 2026-59) -SJ 844

  2. Substituted CS/HB 733 -SJ 844

  3. Read 2nd time -SJ 844

  4. Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 824

  5. Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 747

  6. Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 704

  7. Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 683

  8. Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/06/26

  9. CS/CS/CS by Rules read 1st time

  10. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

  11. Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  12. CS/CS/CS by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0

  13. CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services read 1st time

  14. On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/24/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

  15. Now in Rules

  16. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  17. CS by Health Policy read 1st time

  18. CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; YEAS 9 NAYS 0

  19. On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, 02/18/26, 8:30 am, 412 Knott Building

  20. Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

  21. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  22. CS by Health Policy; YEAS 11 NAYS 0

  23. On Committee agenda-- Health Policy, 02/11/26, 3:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

  24. Introduced

  25. Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Rules

  26. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 162 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (162)

162 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 162 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 23 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 18000
Democrat 5000
No Party Affiliation 0001
Total 23001
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
How each member voted (24)
Member Party Vote
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Not Voting
Boyd, Jim Republican Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Grall, Erin Republican Yea
Harrell, Gayle Republican Yea
Hooper, Ed Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Yea
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 9 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 6000
Democrat 3000
Total 9000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Sharief, Barbara Democrat Yea
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Harrell, Gayle Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety healthcare labor health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 902 do?
Department of Health; Revising requirements for department approval of qualified physicians and medical directors of medical marijuana treatment centers; prohibiting medical marijuana treatment center cultivating, processing, or dispensing facilities from being located within a specified distance of parks, child care facilities, or facilities providing early learning services; creating the Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program within the department; revising duties of the department in administering the Early Steps Program; authorizing a registered nurse to delegate the administration of certain controlled substances to a home health aide for medically fragile children under certain circumstances, etc.
Who sponsors SB 902?
SB 902 is sponsored by Garcia, Ileana (Republican) and Burton, Colleen (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 902?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced December 15, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 902?
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